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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.20.44.20.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.20.5

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 4.20.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अत: कायमिमं विद्वानविद्याकामकर्मभि: ।

आरब्ध इति नैवास्मिन्प्रतिबुद्धोऽनुषज्जते ॥ ५ ॥

ataḥ kāyam imaṁ vidvān

avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ

ārabdha iti naivāsmin

pratibuddho ’nuṣajjate

Translation

Those who are in full knowledge of the bodily conception of life, who know that this body is composed of nescience, desires and activities resulting from illusion, do not become addicted to the body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Rise Beyond Bodily Desires Through Devotion

  1. 1

    Those with good intelligence do not accept themselves to be the body. Knowing its connection with ignorance, desires and illusory activities, they do not become addicted to it.

  2. 2

    Expecting lasting happiness from sense gratification, bodily desires or rituals for material elevation is illusion. Such expectations rest on the bodily conception of life.

  3. 3

    Vedic ritualistic activities mainly concern the three modes of material nature. The instruction is to rise above these modes through the transcendental activities of devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • In the bodily conception, when we think that sense gratification will help us, we are in illusion.
  • Similarly, material activities performed for political emancipation and social and humanitarian activities performed with an idea that people of the world will be happy are also illusory because the basic principle is the bodily conception, which is illusory.
  • Whatever we desire or perform under the bodily conception is all illusion.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.20.5 quotesBG 2.45

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.45): “The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: Lord Viṣṇu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahārāja Pṛthu

Lord Viṣṇu appears with Indra, instructs Pṛthu, and receives his worship and devotional prayers.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ataḥtherefore
  2. kāyambody
  3. imamthis
  4. vidvānhe who has knowledge
  5. avidyāby nescience
  6. kāmadesires
  7. karmabhiḥand by activities
  8. ārabdhaḥcreated
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “illusion”, “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.20

    In this verse: “devotional service”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire am I treating as a source of happiness simply because it promises bodily enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside one optional pursuit of sense gratification today and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRise Beyond Bodily Desires Through DevotionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.20.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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